Rango

The main protagonist of the film. He is a chameleon with aspirations for the stage and stardom, but most of all desires companionship. After being accidentally thrown out of his owner's car, he starts his journey towards his destiny.

Acquired Poison Immunity: During one of his many tall tales, he claims that Rattlesnake Jake is his brother, and he's so immune to his venom that he puts it in his coffee.

Adorkable: Or, as appealing as his character design would allow, anyway.

The Anti-Nihilist: The film begins with him struggling to discover his identity, and his "birth" as he is thrust out from the safety of his tank into the burning desert. After struggling with an existential crisis for the entire story, Rango finally comes to realise he is the only one who can answer the question, "Who am I?"

Chivalrous Pervert: Though he is willing to put more of a toe out of line than most examples, partially due to his years-long isolation. Take how he has no qualms about touching Beans (in a PG fashion) while she's paralysed.

Companion Cube: He has a toy fish and a dismembered doll for "friends".

Genius Ditz: Rango is very aware that he's only digging himself deeper with his lies, but he's also very aware of his surroundings and is able to competently think up solutions to his problems. He's even able to piece together the mayor's water-hoarding scheme.

Genre Savvy: He seems to know a great deal about a variety of genres in fiction, westerns included, and thus doesn't have a hard time blending into Dirt.

Too Dumb to Live: Um, Rango? It could be a good idea taking off your shirt and blend into the sand when the hawk is flying in the air. Though could be justified, as Rango was naive in the area (long ways from home) and coupled with that he probably wasn't thinking clearly since he appeared to be panicking.

Took a Level in Badass: Arguably he does this after killing the hawk to some degree, as he's much braver after that than before and more clever. However, he gets a big one later when he returns from his Heroic BSOD and defeats Rattlesnake Jake. Very strongly proven when he stares Jake down and actually scares the crap out of him.

Wholesome Crossdresser: As part of a disguise. And hardly has a male hero kicked so much butt while wearing a dress.

Beans

A ranch owner, this desert iguana found Rango and brought him to Dirt. She suspects that something has happened to the water supply of the town, that someone is throwing the water out into the desert.

Character Tics: Beans has an unfortunate habit of freezing in place and going momentarily catatonic when under stress. She explains that it is a defense mechanism natural to lizards faced with predators, which is true. The problem with Beans is that "her switch is broken."

Priscilla

A young cactus mouse (or, if you believe Verbinski, an aye-aye) in the town of Dirt. At first she dismisses Rango as "funny-lookin'", she grows to admire him near the end. She has her own pair of revolvers, seems a little too excited about violence and death, and likes to make fun of strangers.

Little Miss Badass: Priscilla wants to be one, and shows Rango she's got a lot of spunk. However, he tells her to stay behind, perhaps too afraid of endangering her. On a side note, their entire dynamic resembles that of Mattie and Cogburn in True Grit.

Tortoise John

He is the mayor of the town of Dirt, who appoints Rango as the sheriff after killing the hawk. He is the wealthiest citizen in Dirt, and is a polite gentleman to the townsfolk, supporting their wishes of a better life. Early in the film, he is the only character with access to the town's supply of water, which makes Beans particularly suspicious. He's also responsible for sealing the water from getting it to the town, which is part of his grand plan to construct a more modern city outside the borders of Dirt (implied to be inspired by seeing the Las Vegas cityscape), which would eventually make it obsolete and the townsfolk forced to move or to face death.

Rattlesnake Jake

"You got killer in your eyes, son? I don't see it."

A fearsome, ferocious desert rattlesnake with a gatling gun for a tail and the secondary antagonist. He is called the Grim Reaper and lauded by many as a ruthless killer who "doesn't leave a town without taking a soul." He secretly worked for the Mayor until near the end when the Mayor turned on Jake.

The Comically Serious: While Rattlesnake Jake definitely adds a sinister touch to the movie, his second faceoff against Rango cost him a little of his mystique. He is quick to gain it back after the mayor screws up a double cross however.

Dragged Off to Hell: Tells Rango he'll do this if he ever sees him again. As a result of all the myth surrounding him, it's difficult to question if he can actually carry out the threat or not. Due to this and his character in general, the scene where he drags the mayor away screaming certainly has this vibe.

The Gunslinger: A cross between Types B and D. He can pump out huge amounts of fire from that tail, but he can also unleash a quick burst with uncanny accuracy and speed. He pops Wounded Bird from halfway across town based on nothing but the sound of Wounded Bird's gun cocking.

Break the Haughty: He could kill Rango easily enough at their first meeting, but seems to feel that he's not even worthy of that. He calls all Rango's bluffs, humiliates him utterly, and forces him to recant his lies. It crushes the spirits of all the townsfolk.

Hero Killer: It's established that he killed the previous sheriff of Dirt, not to mention what Bad Bill says about him.

"Jake's the Grim Reaper, he never leaves town without taking blooming soul."

Heel-Face Turn: In the end of the movie, he strikes peace with Rango and seemingly kills The Mayor.

Karma Houdini: He loses a bit of his reputation, but he doesn't suffer anything worse.

Noble Demon: He exhibits a disgust for treachery, underhanded tactics, liars, and seems to respect a hero of genuine strength, but he is a stone cold killer and has no sense of mercy.

Oh Crap!: Inspires this reaction from pretty much everyone when he arrives. He gets one himself when he discovers Rango's eyes have changed completely and he's now willing to pull the trigger of the gun now pointed at Jake's face.

Psycho for Hire: It's implied that he isn't in this for the money - his price for service is one life.

The Sociopath: He does not hesitate to kill and feels no need to justify what he does.

Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Though many would say this is what everyone else thinks of Jake, he is afraid of hawks, which is the only thing keeping him away from Dirt. Rango uses this to their advantage by having the moles form a shape of a hawk to fool Jake. It doesn't fool him for long, but it does make him waste his ammo. This is somewhat ironic, considering the trope's name.

You Wouldn't Shoot Me: Not only does Jake give Rango a gun during their first meeting, he aims it at his own face for him and barks at him to pull the trigger, telling Rango that he doesn't have "killer in his eyes". He's right... at that time.

Waffles

Part of the posse. A horned toad with a simpleton personality and less than appropriate amount of teeth. Regarding to his official information, he writes "surprisingly bad haiku."

Voiced by James "Jim" Ward Byrkit

Abusive Parents: His father made him cough up marshmallows he had eaten the last evening for breakfast.

Cloud Cuckoolander: Although everybody (sans Rango, Beans and Wounded Bird) in the town could be considered this, Waffles is perhaps the most prominent example.

Manchild: Waffles has a childlike personality and matching intelligence.

Scary Teeth: Most of the townsfolk have bad teeth, but Waffles' big, crooked, rotten teeth are the most visible.

Wounded Bird

Part of the posse and Rango's deputy. A Native American raven who is a quiet bystander and uses a crutch of some sort to help himself walk. His general information from the movie's website states that his tracking skills are legendary and that he's big in Finland for reasons unknown.

Voiced by Gil Birmingham

Captain Obvious: In the video game, it's almost impossible not to find it funny that he keeps repeating "I'm over here", "Over here, Rango" and "I'm here" while Rango is goddamn standing right next to him.

Collector of the Strange: In the video game, he gives Rango updates to his abilities by getting sheriff stars traded in return. Wonder what he does with those stars...

Mysterious Past: His information in the movie website says that he's "big in Finland for some reason." There are no hints of this in the movie whatsoever, so one could only wonder how and why he's been to Finland and what he did there.

Tuxedo and Martini: When he's seen while Rango steps into the saloon for the first time, Ambrose is wearing his usual tuxedo with a top hat and there's a shot glass filled with cactus juice beside him.

Zerg Rush: The Mole family might have more extra chromosomes than teeth, but one marvels at the problems that can be solved by throwing the sum total of your kinsman at a given situation. Overlaps with We Have Reserves in the final fight, where the plan is to have Rattlesnake Jake empty his guns shooting at them so Rango can safely walk right up to him with his One Bullet.

Rango: We've got you surrounded! You and your entire family get your hands up where I can see 'em!

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